As holiday season sales are in full swing and your beers are flying off the shelves, your brewery might think of adding some fuel to the fire by kicking your marketing and advertising up a notch. Here are five common issues that confront beverage alcohol suppliers that maybe don’t seem to be a problem on […]
In recent columns I discussed the need for successful companies to have a workforce skilled in 21st-century technology and the fact that competing in a global economy requires evaluation of our organization, workforce, and processes, respectively. Now I would like to focus on changing company culture to attract a workforce with those necessary skill sets. […]
You’ve located the perfect spot for your new or expanded brew and tasting location. You’ve identified and contracted with a suitable consultant and requested that they perform a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. The Phase I report is issued and you learn that your ideal location is impacted by prior uses at the site. Deep breath—your […]
Tickets on Sale Soon! The New York State Brewers Association is proud to announce the 4th annual New York Craft Brewers Festival that will take place on June 9th, 2018 at the historic FX Matt Brewing Company in Utica, New York. The New York Craft Brewers Festival brings together up to 40 New York State Breweries from every region of the […]
Do you have a brewery in planning or are you thinking about starting your own brewery in New York? Congratulations! Below is a legal to do list in chronological order for you to consider as you begin the process. The list covers everything from trademarks, to commercial leases, to your federal and state brewing licenses, […]
Employee use of social media can be a tricky area for employers. As we all know, social media profiles can be a mix of personal and work-related content. But employers who discipline or terminate employees based on statements made on social media run the risk of violating the law. Section 7 of the National Labor […]
In the first part of this series, I covered the benefits of copyright registration for brewers. This article addresses and equally important topic: whether you as a brewer are the owner of the copyright in your label art. This is important because copyright literally protects the right to make copies, which includes the right to […]
Brewers are a creative bunch. Label artwork is a great example of this. From the gentleman with the hops exploding out of the top of his head that graces Heady Topper to the happy baby on every bottle of Founders Breakfast Stout, the craft beer world is full of iconic label art. These labels are […]
As you know well, the Workers’ Compensation governing class for New York State breweries (2121) has increased more than 74% since 2011. Why? Well, to put it (very) simply, the brewing industry in New York State has had substantial and costly workers’ compensation claims; that has, in turn, driven up the costs of coverage. So, […]
You’ve perfected several of your brews, but you realize that you do not have the ability to produce the volume necessary to take your brewery to the next level. Once you reach this point, you have two options: open your own brewery or contract with an existing brewery to produce your beer there. Depending on […]